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Defendants finalised through charges being withdrawn by the prosecution decreased by 3% from 3,318 in 2010-11 to 3,222 in 2011-12.

For 2011-12, the largest proportions of defendants finalised through charges withdrawn by the prosecution were for the following offences:

29% had been facing charges of homicide (14 defendants);

25% had been facing charges of miscellaneous offences (64 defendants);

21% had been facing charges of sexual assault (123 defendants); and

14% had been facing charges of robbery and extortion (219 defendants).

States and territories with a higher proportion of withdrawn defendants than the national average (10%) were the Northern Territory (22%), South Australia (18%), the Australian Capital Territory (15%) and Victoria (14%). Western Australia (3%) and Tasmania (2%) had the smallest proportion of defendants finalised by charges being withdrawn.

Defendants acquitted

In 2011-12, 1,323 or 4% of defendants finalised in the Children's Courts were acquitted.

For those acquitted, the largest proportion of defendants had the following principal offences: acts intended to cause injury (30%), theft (19%), unlawful entry with intent (11%), property damage (8%) and public order offences (7%).

The states with the highest proportions of defendants acquitted were Tasmania (15%), followed by the Northern Territory (11%), New South Wales (8%) and the Australian Capital Territory (6%). Queensland (1%), Western Australia (1%) and South Australia (less than 1%) had the lowest proportions.

Defendants proven guilty

Defendants proven guilty includes those who plead guilty or were found guilty by the court, including those found guilty ex-parte.

Defendants proven guilty in the Children's Courts accounted for 26,525 (79%) of defendants finalised in 2011-12.

For those proven guilty, the largest proportion of defendants had the following principal offences: acts intended to cause injury (21%), theft (20%), unlawful entry with intent (14%) and traffic, public order offences and property damage (all 8%).

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